Gulf Construction Online - Kusser’s fountains spout creativity

Germany & the Mideast

A floating ring fountain

Kusser’s fountains spout creativity

01 March 2006

Sophisticated fountain construction technology developed by Kusser Aicha Granitwerke – a leading German specialist in water features for the last 25 years – has brought a world of structural aesthetics to global clients.

Well renowned for its original Kugel Floating Sphere and its companion innovations, the Floating Disc, Floating Wheel and the Floating Ring, these structures combine basic physics, precise stone machinery and advanced German engineering to produce aesthetic sculptural fountains that have found high-profile applications in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and many other cities.
“We have earned recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records for having produced the largest floating sphere in the world for our 8’ 8” sphere in front of the Science Museum of Virginia, US, a landmark sculpture which showcases the company’s technologies to the world,” says a spokesman for the company
Although these unique water features are made of tonnes of granite, they literally float on a thin film of water, creating high-impact with low-maintenance centerpieces for public spaces and private gardens, both indoors and outdoors. Nestled in a socket cut to precise contours, each fountain is propelled solely by very low-pressure water pumped from below and has an immaculate finish.

Custom designed
Every fountain is tailor-made and designed to meet the client’s or architect’s required specifications and stringent requirements, says the spokesman. The completed designs consist of pre-engineered and precision-cut natural stone components, ready for assembling on site.
“It includes complete mechanical and electrical packages for turnkey responsibility and can be installed in less than 30 days,” he says. “The component structure dramatically cuts installation time, assures a high-quality product and reduces maintenance and operational costs.”
“No other similar product is manufactured to exacting standards set by the original manufacturer and holder of exclusive patents on the machinery that crafts these water features. This is also true of other water features such as water-walls, waterfalls or fountains,” he says. “Kussel also supervises each installation, no matter where in the world it is and gives precise instructions for its long-term maintenance to ensure a long life.”

The world’s largest floating sphere

Large monolithic elements
The focus on traditional craftsmanship, sophisticated machinery as well as a specialised internal planning team of technicians, engineers and architects has established Kusser as a leader in the global natural stone industry, he points out.
“Individual pieces are processed at large sizes and precision not readily available from other sources, giving the company an added edge over competitors. Typical applications of large monolithic elements such as columns, facades or huge slabs as oversized pavement, are all part of their product portfolio.

Prestressed granite
Kusser – which is also a leader in natural stone technologies – has perfected processes and thus opened new dimensions in design application.
“The prestressing of granite allows the creation of extremely slim but high-strength designs. A good example of this is the sculpture of the Polar Axis of the Earth, scale 1:1,000,000 by artist and professor, Timm Ulrichs. Although it is 12 m long and weighs 10 tonnes, almost two thirds of it cantilevers freely, carrying a huge stone disc. Rotating at the same speed as the world, it also functions as a timekeeper. Horizontal elements are prestressed as well and allow for surprisingly slim bridges as well as large self-supporting stairs in natural stone without any concrete.” Kusser has a over a century’s experience in processing natural stones and has been in the global market for over 25 years in the field of water-based stone structures. Its aesthetic structures can be spotted in rich private homes as well as up-market public places worldwide.